FINALLY time to get a new car - KIA Sportage? Maybe PT Cruiser?

[SagaLore]

A few years ago we had to have the alternator and battery replaced in my wife's 97 Civic. Last week she came back from yard-sales and her car was emitting a horrible rotten egg stench. I found the source of the sulfur smell coming from her battery - and the terminal was sizzling and leaking.

So we took it in and the mechanics said the alternator was charging the battery at 19amps when it should have been charging at 13amps. The battery was getting too much power - and we continued to drive it as is, it could eventually blow up or catch fire.

A few months ago we already replaced the resonator and that was a few hundred by itself. While checking over the engine, they also saw that 3 belts need replaced. So this newest work will cost nearly $700 after parts and labor.

We checked out CarMax last night - found a cute 2002 KIA Sportage. Didn't have time to test drive it but it looked nice, was the right size (don't want to go any bigger). It would be nice to have an SUV but I don't want my wife driving anything big... station wagons are kind of ugly... the hatchbacks were our next options but they're almost too small. If we could find a really small minivan that would work too.

So, is the KIA worth looking into? I heard they're not that great of vehicles.

update:
Okay, I get the point. KIA is bad. We have to go up into the $12k price range, but I'm finding a few newer Chrysler PT Cruiser's for sale. And they're about the right size... plus, the seats can be removed, so it can be our mini-mini-suv. I looked at some interior pictures, and its got the exact same dashboard as my Dodge Neon. :shocked: I forgot that Chrysler and Dodge were the same company...

 

[vi edit]

About as cheap and cracker box as a little SUV can get. Go with a Subaru Forester. A 2001 or 2002 should be rather inexpensive by now. The 2002 has a much safer frame to it. Subaru's last forever, and are incredibly safe. Good on milage too.

That would be my choice for a bargain price cute 'ute.

 

[amddude]

Don't buy a kia. Please.

 

[iamwiz82]

$700 for 3 belts, a resonator and a battery? I should have been a mechanic.

 

[J0hnny]

A 1997 Civic with all those problems?

How in the world did that happen?
How many miles do you have in it? How hard do you drive it?

Was regular maintenance done on the Civic as per suggested intervals?

If you get a Kia, expect to be able to maintain it like any other car. I've heard quality has been improving. What's the warranty on a Kia again?

 

[lokiju]

My fiancee Mom has the KIA Sorento and swears she'll never get a KIA again.

It's a very rough ride for being such a new car.

Have you considered the Hyundai Santa Fe?

It's redesigned for this year and is actually a very good bang for the buck car with a nice smooth ride and ample power.

 

[J0hnny]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
$700 for 3 belts, a resonator and a battery? I should have been a mechanic.

those belts are a PAIN to remove...

 

[spaceman]

i wouldnt get a sportage.
get a nice used impreza wagon.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
$700 for 3 belts, a resonator and a battery? I should have been a mechanic.

$700 for 3 belts, alternator, and battery. The resonator was a previous issue and was $200.

The civic parts are expensive. The mechanics we're going to are actually very generous when charging for labor.

 

[j00fek]

if you go from a honda to a kia you should be held accountable

 

[SunnyD]

Don't have any problems with my Kia except the one wire that my brothers stupidass dog chewed through under one of the seats (no it's not the e-brake either).

 

[Glavinsolo]

OP don't listen to them. You have my vote for your decision. The warranty alone makes it worth it.

 

[WT]

'05 Sorento owner here. Got a good deal on it as a leftover ($5,800 off) so I'm happy as a clam. Older Sportages had bad wear on the front brakes with warping rotors that were a costly nuisance. Also, Kia is not known for having long life from their wheel bearings but that supposedly was addressed on all models from '05 on .. we shall see said the blind man.

I love mine, but I really wish it had a MP3 compatible head unit with pre-amps, plus the motor from the Hyundai Azera. The '07 model adds these features, tuning the motor down a bit to 244hp from the Azera's 262, as well as adding the Infinity stereo from the new '06 Sportage.

 

[eminemrh25]

Don't get a Kia, the value on them drops faster than any other car I've ever seen...

 

[TuxDave]

Have you tried looking into Hyundais?

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Why not the new Santa Fe? That thing is pretty nice inside out. I've rode inside a new Sorrento, and that's actually pretty nice too, but the Sante Fe is nicer.

 

[EKKC]

i rented one on a trip. The Sportage. i hated it. especially when i myself drive a Nissan Xterra.

 

[MX2]

Forester

/end thread

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
OP don't listen to them. You have my vote for your decision. The warranty alone makes it worth it.

Its a 2002, resold by Carmax. As far as I know, the warranty only covers the first owner.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Why not the new Santa Fe? That thing is pretty nice inside out. I've rode inside a new Sorrento, and that's actually pretty nice too, but the Sante Fe is nicer.

We're not looking to buy new. Our budget is under $10,000.

 

[radioouman]

Fix the Civic!

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Fix the Civic!

Its a 97 Civic with 5-speed. She's been wanting an automatic for quite some time. We know from previous experience, once a civic starts falling apart you're in for an expensive ride. Next it will be her muffler, then cvjoints, then radiator, then power steering, then ac, then.... and its always very expensive.

 

[raildogg]

A used Honda CRV is awesome. Good mileage too.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

only buy the Kia if it is Magenta

 

[thomsbrain]

your problem is not your car. your problem is your mechanic. despite his skill in manipulating you, your mechanic doesn't actually sound like a very good MECHANIC. otherwise you wouldn't have a new alternator that isn't functioning properly. even i can change an alternator properly, and i can't even change my OIL. he needed to change a few belts and it will cost $700? the only belt that costs this much to replace on a Honda is the timing belt, and that is something that gets changed on a mileage interval, not by "taking a look at the car." how do you find the interval? look it up in your MANUAL. and ALL hondas need their timing belt changed on a set schedule, so if it is actually due for it, just pay for it, because it won't need to be done again for another 90,000 miles or whatever your internal is.

look up your timing belt interval yourself and see if it needs it. then take your car to a honda specialist. have him diagnose the electrical issue again. get it fixed. if you need to do the timing belt, do it. you'll have a car that will go another 100,000+ miles, all for less than $1000.

a used KIA is a BAD f'ing idea.